The Red Balloon


Albert Lamorisse - 1956
    A New  York Times Best Illustrated Children's  Book of the Year.

Cautionary Tales for Children


Hilaire Belloc - 1907
    Collected here and illustrated to wonderful haunting effect by Edward Gorey, these short, funny pieces offer moral instruction for all types of mischief makers—from a certain young Jim, "who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion," to the tale of Matilda, "who told lies and was burned to death”—and add up to a delightful read for any fan of Roald Dahl or Shel Silverstein.

Bear Is a Bear


Jonathan Stutzman - 2021
    . . a new friend, a fellow mischief-maker, a protector, and a dreamer.Through all the many ups and downs of a little girl’s childhood, Bear is there to provide love and support. Until it is time to say goodbye . . . and hello again.

Peppa Pig and the Lost Christmas List


Neville Astley - 2012
    All of Peppa’s friends are there, too, and each one tells Peppa the special gift on their list. Peppa is excited to help Daddy Pig and Mummy Pig pick out and decorate their enormous tree, and she can’t wait for the big day to arrive. But little does she know that a surprise is in store on Christmas Eve, and that she may play a part in saving the day! Peppa is the endearing star of Peppa Pig — a BAFTA-winning preschool TV series that has been a long-running success in the U.K. and is now winning devoted fans in the U.S. with daily showings on Nick Jr. Peppa and her little brother, her daddy, her mummy, and her many friends arrive at Candlewick just in time for the holiday season, poised for much muddy puddle jumping and more new adventures to come.

Hopper and Wilson


Maria van Lieshout - 2011
    So the two sail off in a boat made of paper . . . only to discover they already have everything they could wish for in each other, and at home. Maria van Lieshout's adorable new picture book tugs at heartstrings, inspires discussion, and reminds us all how good returning home can feel.Praise for HOPPER AND WILSON"...van Lieshout's story is filled with adventure, emotion, and imagery that supplies lots of effervescent warmth."--Publisher's Weekly"Winsomely ambiguous and otherworldly, this sweet, quirky story offers fantastic footholds for dizzying discussion."--Kirkus Reviews

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat


Ursula Moray Williams - 1942
    So, while his sister Sootica learns how to ride a broomstick and turn mice into toads, Gobbolino sets off to find a nice warm fire and a family to care for him. He has many adventures along the way and makes many friends, until he finally finds the home he dreams of. First published in 1942, Gobbolino the Witch's Cat continues to delight children - a true modern classic.

Bunny Day: Telling Time from Breakfast to Bedtime


Rick Walton - 2002
    The jaunty rhyme and sunny paintings will make Bunny Day a favorite pastime all day long. Full-color illustrations.

The Doomspell


Cliff McNish - 2000
    Like thousands of other children before them, they have been snatched away by the Witch. But this time the Witch has met her match. Rachel discovers that she has extraordinary gifts: she can transform herself into a feather, or fly on an owl’s back, just as the Witch can. The Witch is excited she has found someone to use for her own evil purposes. But for the Witch’s victims, Rachel is their only hope.Reviews'High fantasy, richly imagined and refreshingly well-written — an excellent novel.' The Sunday Times 'Brilliant, breathless and filled with action from page one.' Kids Out'Gripping, racy, children have been fighting to borrow it.' The Guardian'An incredible world in which the reader will become totally absorbed.' The Bookseller'A vivid world of magical possibilities.' The Times 'A thrilling and magical read - there is a real build up of suspense with plenty of twists and turns. It is full of brilliant descriptions of events, characters and places.' Library and Information Service for Schools 'Places him firmly among much more well-known names such as Philip Pullman and C.S.Lewis - Ithrea is a truly complete world, and the characters are beautifully conceived to obtain an emotional response from the reader.' BookMonster

Shall I Knit You a Hat?: A Christmas Yarn


Kate Klise - 2004
    He loves his hat so much, he and his mother make them for all of his friends.

This House, Once


Deborah Freedman - 2017
    Deborah Freedman’s masterful new picture book is at once an introduction to the pieces of a house, a cozy story to share and explore, and a dreamy meditation on the magic of our homes and our world.Before there was this house,there were stones,and mud,and a colossal oak tree—three hugs aroundand as high as the blue.What was your home, once?This poetically simple, thought-provoking, and gorgeously illustrated book invites readers to think about where things come from and what nature provides.

Day Dreamers: A Journey of Imagination


Emily Winfield Martin - 2014
    Whether cloud-gazing or wandering through a museum, reading a book or playing in a tide-pool, the children in this picture book find themselves in places  inhabited by magical creatures such as dragons, unicorns, griffins, and jackalopes. A whimsical rhyme accompanies the dream-worthy illustrations.From the Hardcover edition.

Rain Makes Applesauce


Julian Scheer - 1964
    It doesn't pretend to be anything else. And yet it is an extraordinary creation, in which author and artist speak to children in a very special way. The fanciful nonsense and marvelously intricate pictures are full of sly subtleties and happy surprises for both eye and ear. It is a book of absurd delights, of tiny, fey graphic details, of captivating scenes and lyrical phrases that stretch the imagination. Children will return to it again and again for new meanings, new images, new responses.

Trains Don't Sleep


Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum - 2017
    And when it is time to rest and dreams are just ahead, never fear—trains don’t sleep so that you can. With the feel of a classic and vivid artwork that captures the power and majesty of trains, this is a  fast-paced rhyming ode to the locomotive.

I Love You Through and Through


Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak - 2005
    A perfect first book for toddlers with sturdy cardstock pages and a padded cover with rounded corners for safe handling by little ones.

I Knew You Could!: A Book for All the Stops in Your Life


Craig Dorfman - 2003
    I Knew You Could! provides familiar comfort in changing times and serves as a wonderful gift that will be treasured for years to come. Readers will revisit the story again and again as they move forward along life's path. From I think I can to I knew I could, The Little Engine That Could helps kids of all ages realize that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it!